Official blog of Sounds broadcaster Jeff Hem

The #LastCheerAtGreer and the playoff race continue tonight as the Sounds, one game back of Memphis with eight games to play, face Sacramento, which is one game ahead of Reno for first in its division with seven games to play. The pitching match-up has Taylor Jungmann (8-5, 4.22) facing former Vanderbilt Commodore Matt Buschmann (8-6, 4.56). First pitch on 102.5 The Game is set for 7:05 CT with pregame at 6:50.

Tonight’s interview is with former Sounds manager (’09-’11) Don Money, the longtime Milwaukee Brewers player and now minor league instructor. Due to his travel schedule as a roving instructor, Money will be seeing his final game at Greer Stadium tonight. He recalls some of his memories of managing in Nashville and what minor league ballpark facilities were like when he played.

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The Sounds are down to nine games left in the regular season, and after they and Memphis won last night, the Sounds and Redbirds continue to sit in a first-place tie. Tonight it’s Game 2 of a four-game set against Sacramento, which has just a one-game lead over Reno its division race. Tonight it’s Billy Buckner (4-5, 5.80) against Zach Neal (6-7, 4.53). First pitch on 102.5 The Game is set for 7:05 CT.

Tonight’s interview is our weekly chat with Sounds manager Rick Sweet, who discusses the Sounds’ recent road trip (5-3 record through El Paso and Albuquerque), the excitement of the playoff chase, the continued hot hitting of Matt Clark, the return of Hunter Morris and the injuries to Hector Gomez and Ariel Pena.

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @jeffhempbp
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The Sounds are down to 10 games left in the regular season, and they sit in a first-place tie with Memphis. Tonight the Sounds continue their final homestand ever at Greer Stadium as they welcome another first-place club to town, the Sacramento River Cats. They have a two-game lead in their division over Reno. It’s Michael Blazek (3-4, 4.14) vs. Angel Castro (9-7, 4.19). First pitch on 102.5 The Game starts at 6:35.

Tonight’s interview is with Sounds reliever Tim Dillard, who came up from Double-A Huntsville last night and has now pitched for the Sounds in eight consecutive seasons. As it turned out, the always-hilarious Dillard wasn’t the only one who appeared in the interview.

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @jeffhempbp
If you want to send me an email: Jeff@nashvillesounds.com
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The Sounds are in the middle of the final homestand ever at 37-year-old Greer Stadium as they play Game 3 of a four-game series tonight against Fresno. It’s Jay Jackson (0-2, 7.50) against Chris Heston (10-8, 3.50). First pitch is set for 7:05, and pregame on 102.5 The Game begins at 6:50. With 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Sounds are tied for first place with Memphis, and only division winners make the PCL playoffs.

Throughout this #LastCheerAtGreer season, it’s been fun to interview former Sounds whenever possible. Tonight’s interview is with former Sound Matt Winters, who played for the Sounds in ’82 and now works as a scout for the Nippon Ham Fighters. Winters describes his scouting work, being a New York teenager that was drafted in the 1st round by the Yankees in ’78 and recalls his time with the Sounds, including Brian Dayett’s extra-inning walk-off home run that gave the Sounds the 1982 Southern League title.

1982 Sounds OF Matt Winters, shown later in his career with the Omaha Royals

Thanks for listening! (On the Air…and Off)

Jeff

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @jeffhempbp
If you want to send me an email: Jeff@nashvillesounds.com
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The Sounds wrap up their second to last road trip of the season tonight as they go for three out of four in Albuquerque against the Isotopes. It’s Michael Blazek (3-4, 3.61) against Chris Reed (0-2, 11.05) with a first pitch at 7:35 CT. The broadcast on 102.5 The Game starts at 7:20. Then it’s back to Nashville for the final homestand ever at 37-year-old Greer Stadium — eight games (4 vs. Fresno, 4 vs. Sacramento). The Sounds finish the season with six games in five days (a rainout to make up) in Round Rock over Labor Day Weekend. With 15 games left in the season, the Sounds sit in 2nd place, one game back of Memphis. Remember that only division winners make the Pacific Coast League playoffs. This is going down to the wire. Hopefully the Sounds make the playoffs and have at least one more game at Greer after this upcoming homestand. But just in case, come out to Greer over these next eight days to enjoy your (potentially) #LastCheerAtGreer.

Tonight’s interview is with Isotopes pitcher and former Sound Jeff Bennett, who beat the Sounds on Sunday with a quality start. He pitched for the Sounds in three different seasons — ’03, ’05, ’10 — and was with the Sounds in ’05 when they won in Tacoma to clinch the Pacific Coast League Championship. Bennett, who was born in Donelson, grew up in Gordonsville and now makes his home in Nashville, shares some of his Greer Stadium memories and his love of Nashville as a community and sports town.

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @jeffhempbp
If you want to send me an email: Jeff@nashvillesounds.com
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The Sounds play Game 3 of their four-game series tonight in Albuquerque, and for the first time in almost a month, they’re not in first place. They sit one game behind Memphis with 16 to play, as the Redbirds beat El Paso last night after the Sounds had fallen to the Isotopes. Tonight it’s Donovan Hand (2-7, 5.40) against Barry Enright (0-2, 7.89). First pitch on 102.5 The Game is set for 7:35 CT.

Tonight’s interview is our weekly chat with Sounds manager Rick Sweet, who discusses the eight-game road trip to this point (3-3), the hot hitting from first baseman Matt Clark and recent additions to the team such as catcher Adam Weisenburger and pitchers Jay Jackson and Billy Buckner.

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @jeffhempbp
If you want to send me an email: Jeff@nashvillesounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.

The Sounds continue an eight-game road trip today in Albuquerque as they face the Isotopes at 2:35 CT. Jay Jackson (0-1, 7.71) faces former Sound Jeff Bennett (6-6, 3.96), the middle Tennessee native who pitched for the Sounds in ’05, ’09-’10. With 17 games to play, the Sounds sit in a first-place tie with Memphis, which won last in El Paso while the Sounds beat the ‘Topes, 8-3. Pregame today on 102.5 The Game begins at 2:20.

Today’s interview is with Sounds reliever Brent Leach, a former Isotope who came up with the Dodgers and for whom he made his major league debut in ’09. He pitched in 38 games that season for L.A. and was called up from Double-A, to that point having never pitched at Triple-A. Leach discusses some memories of his big league time, including facing Jim Thome, getting to hear the great Vin Scully announce his name on a broadcast and being the only lefty in the Dodgers’ bullpen for a while, which has been the case for him most of this season with the Sounds. Leach also discusses his outstanding pick-off move, which he used last night for his 10th pick-off of the season.

If you want to follow me on Twitter: @jeffhempbp
If you want to send me an email: Jeff@nashvillesounds.com
If you want to subscribe to blog posts via email updates, you can do so in the upper right section of the home page.